Malte Humpert

Malte Humpert is an investigative journalist for gCaptain and High North News, and Senior Fellow at The Arctic Institute, which he founded in 2011. Based in Tahoe City, California, his research focuses on Arctic geopolitics, Northern Sea Route shipping, and China's interests in the polar region. He was the first journalist to report on Maersk's historic 2018 container ship voyage through the Arctic. His analysis has been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, and The Economist. Malte holds a Master's degree in European Studies from Georgetown University's Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service.


Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Container Vessel Hit by Projectile South of Iran’s Kish Island, Crew Safe, UKMTO Says
Incidents

Container Vessel Hit by Projectile South of Iran’s Kish Island, Crew Safe, UKMTO Says

A container vessel was struck by an unidentified projectile in the Gulf, about 25 nautical miles south of Iran’s Kish Island, causing damage above the

April 7, 2026
Total Views: 6124

Yamal LNG ship-to-ship transfer
Energy

Russia’s Yamal LNG Sends First Cargo to China Since November as EU Demand Dominated Q1

Russia’s Yamal LNG project has dispatched its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo to China since November, ship-tracking data showed on Tuesday, marking

April 7, 2026
Total Views: 1093

Monday, April 6, 2026
Libya Resumes ‘Arctic Metagaz’ Salvage as IMO Monitors, Probe Links Attack to Ukraine Operations in Libya
Incidents

Libya Resumes ‘Arctic Metagaz’ Salvage as IMO Monitors, Probe Links Attack to Ukraine Operations in Libya

Libya has resumed salvage operations on the stricken Russian LNG carrier Arctic Metagaz, deploying naval assets and divers as the International Maritime

April 6, 2026
Total Views: 2176

Volga-Balt 214
Incidents

Russian Grain Ship Sinks in Sea of Azov After Suspected Drone Strike, Raising Risks to Shipping

A Russian cargo ship carrying grain sank in the Sea of Azov on April 5 after what Russian officials said was a Ukrainian drone attack, in the latest escalation

April 6, 2026
Total Views: 1448

Novatek Sets Up Arctic-focused Shipbuilding Unit as Russia Grapples With Ice-Class Fleet Shortage
Shipbuilding

Novatek Sets Up Arctic-focused Shipbuilding Unit as Russia Grapples With Ice-Class Fleet Shortage

Russia’s largest independent gas producer Novatek has registered a new shipbuilding and engineering subsidiary, as the country seeks to ease a shortage of

April 6, 2026
Total Views: 885

Friday, April 3, 2026
First Japanese LNG Carrier Passes Through Hormuz Since Iran Conflict Began
News

First Japanese LNG Carrier Passes Through Hormuz Since Iran Conflict Began

A Japanese-linked liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier has successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz, marking the first such passage by a Japan-affiliated

April 3, 2026
Total Views: 1038

Thursday, April 2, 2026
Libya Confirms ‘Arctic Metagaz’ Salvage Has Failed and Vessel Out of Control at Sea Near Malta SAR Zone
News

Libya Confirms ‘Arctic Metagaz’ Salvage Has Failed and Vessel Out of Control at Sea Near Malta SAR Zone

The liquefied natural gas carrier Arctic Metagaz is “completely out of control at sea” in the Mediterranean after a towing attempt collapsed at around 0400

April 2, 2026
Total Views: 2563

Wednesday, April 1, 2026
Libya Abandons ‘Arctic Metagaz’ Salvage At Edge of Malta SAR Zone
News

Libya Abandons ‘Arctic Metagaz’ Salvage At Edge of Malta SAR Zone

Libyan authorities have effectively halted efforts to secure the stricken LNG tanker Arctic Metagaz, towing the vessel far offshore and leaving it adrift near

April 1, 2026
Total Views: 3916

Tuesday, March 31, 2026
China, Pakistan Propose Middle East Ceasefire Plan, Urge Swift Talks
News

China, Pakistan Propose Middle East Ceasefire Plan, Urge Swift Talks

China and Pakistan on Tuesday jointly proposed a five-point peace initiative calling for an immediate ceasefire and the rapid launch of negotiations to end

March 31, 2026
Total Views: 1538

US Removes Sanctions on Three Russian Vessels, Says Move Not Policy Shift
News

US Removes Sanctions on Three Russian Vessels, Says Move Not Policy Shift

The United States has removed sanctions on three Russian-flagged vessels, including container ships Fesco Moneron and Fesco Magadan and the cargo ship Sv

March 31, 2026
Total Views: 1122

Fire-damaged LNG tanker Arctic Metagaz drifting at sea with visible hull damage and discoloration in the Mediterranean near Libya.
Incidents

‘Arctic Metagaz’ Towing Operation Heads Toward Maltese Waters As Plans for Cargo Removal Unclear

The fate of the damaged tanker Arctic Metagaz remained uncertain as a Libyan-led towing operation pushed the vessel farther into the central Mediterranean,

March 31, 2026
Total Views: 2008

Monday, March 30, 2026
Liquefaction-Facility
Energy

How Sanctioned Russian Arctic LNG Hardware Could Find a Second Life in Alaska’s ‘Polar LNG’ Project

A newly proposed liquefied natural gas project on Alaska’s North Slope is exploring whether sanctioned equipment originally built for Russia’s Arctic LNG 2

March 30, 2026
Total Views: 2293

Thursday, March 26, 2026
Rendering of the Homeland Security Cutter L light icebreaker
USCG

U.S. Coast Guard Announces Plans to Acquire Up to Seven New Light Icebreakers

The U.S. Coast Guard has issued a request for information (RFI) as it moves forward with plans to acquire up to seven new light icebreakers to replace an aging

March 26, 2026
Total Views: 24618

Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Ukraine Drone Strike Reportedly Damages Russian Arctic Patrol Icebreaker ‘Purga’ at Vyborg Shipyard
Incidents

Ukraine Drone Strike Reportedly Damages Russian Arctic Patrol Icebreaker ‘Purga’ at Vyborg Shipyard

A Ukrainian drone strike on the Russian port of Vyborg has reportedly damaged the Arctic patrol icebreaker Purga, a dual-role military vessel under

March 25, 2026
Total Views: 3313

Libya Secures Drifting Arctic Metagaz Tanker After Weeks Adrift in Central Mediterranean
Incidents

Libya Secures Drifting Arctic Metagaz Tanker After Weeks Adrift in Central Mediterranean

Libyan authorities have secured the damaged Russian LNG tanker Arctic Metagaz after weeks adrift in the central Mediterranean, taking decisive action that

March 25, 2026
Total Views: 1521

Wednesday, March 18, 2026
A Russian LNG tanker, Arctic Metagaz, damaged earlier this month and currently adrift without crew, floats in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea
Incidents

Two Weeks After Explosion ‘Arctic Metagaz’ Drifts Back Into Libyan Waters Amid Continued Fears of Explosion and Environmental Disaster

After two weeks as a “ghost ship” drifting across the Mediterranean, the abandoned Russian?flagged LNG carrier Arctic?Metagaz has returned to Libyan

March 18, 2026
Total Views: 2020

Monday, March 16, 2026
First LNG Tanker Carrying Russian Gas Enters Mediterranean Since ‘Arctic Metagaz’ Explosion
Shipping

First LNG Tanker Carrying Russian Gas Enters Mediterranean Since ‘Arctic Metagaz’ Explosion

An LNG carrier carrying Russian gas has entered the Mediterranean Sea for the first time since Moscow began diverting shipments away from the region after an

March 16, 2026
Total Views: 2793

Friday, March 13, 2026
Arc7 LNG carrier Alexey Kosygin departing the Zvezda Shipyard en route to the Arctic ice trials
News

Russia’s Newest Arc7 LNG Carrier ‘Konstantin Posyet’ Leaves Zvezda Yard For Possible Sea Trials

An ice-class LNG carrier under construction at Russia’s Zvezda shipyard in the Far East may have begun sea trials this week, a potentially important step in

March 13, 2026
Total Views: 861

Thursday, March 12, 2026
Russia Pushes Icebreakers to 270 Days at Sea as Sanctions Slow Arctic Fleet Renewal
Shipping

Russia Pushes Icebreakers to 270 Days at Sea as Sanctions Slow Arctic Fleet Renewal

Russia will push its nuclear-powered icebreakers to sea for up to 270 days a year, increasing workloads as an ageing fleet, sanctions-related delays and

March 12, 2026
Total Views: 1199

Wednesday, March 11, 2026
The Thailand-flagged cargo ship Mayuree Naree engulfed in black smoke in the Strait of Hormuz
Incidents

Three More Vessels Hit by Projectiles in Strait of Hormuz, Showing Merchant Ships Remain in Firing Line

Three more vessels have been hit by unknown projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz, maritime security and risk firms said on Wednesday, bringing the number of

March 11, 2026
Total Views: 1948